Kiswahili and Tanzanian Culture Handbook Prepared for Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteers for use in their field assignments USEFUL PHRASES A word on pronunciation: Kiswahili is an extremely phonetic language with few exceptions and irregularities. Every vowel only has one sound. There are no diphthongs, and you must pronounce
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Kiswahili and Tanzanian Culture
Handbook
Prepared for Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteers for use in their field assignments
USEFUL PHRASES
A word on pronunciation: Kiswahili is an extremely phonetic language with few exceptions and
irregularities. Every vowel only has one sound. There are no diphthongs, and you must pronounce
every letter you see. Even words like “mchana” are pronounced with 3 syllables: mm-chah-nah. The
emphasis is always on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable of a word.
A - ah (Like the "a" in "father") E - eh (Like the "e" in "egg" ) I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see") O - oh (Like the "o" in "dot" ) U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")
1. MAAMKIZI GREETINGS
Habari gani? How are things?
Habari za asubuhi? How are you this morning?
Habari za mchana? How are you this afternoon?
Habari za leo? How are you today?
Habari za jioni? How are you this evening?
Nzuri/Njema/Salama Good/Fine/Peacefully
Hujambo? How are you?( sing)
Sijambo I am fine
Hamjambo? How are you? (pl)
Hatujambo We are fine
Shikamoo. I respect you elder
Marahaba Response to "shikamoo"
Mambo? (informal) What's up/How are things?
Poa Cool
Umeamkaje? How did you wake up?
Salama Peacefully
Tutaonana baadaye See you later.
Kwa heri Goodbye
Usiku mwema Good night
Mzima? How are you?
Mzima. Whole, healthy
Salama? Are you in peace?
Salama. I am in peace
Upo? Are you there?
Nipo I am here
Tutaonana kesho We will see each other tomorrow.
Kwema? Is everything ok?
Kwema. Everything is ok.
2. KUJITAMBULISHA
INTRODUCTIONS
Jina lako nani? What is your name?
Unaitwa nani? What are you called?
Jina langu ni……..? My name is……?
Jina langu si My name is not………..
Ninaitwa………. I am called……….
Unatoka wapi? Where are you from?
Ninatoka Marekani I am from the U.S
Unafanya kazi gani? What work are you doing?
Mimi ni mwalimu wa kulima I am a teacher of farming.
Mimi ni mwanamazingira I am an environmentalist
Mimi ni mwalimu wa afya I am a health teacher
Utakaa hapa kwa muda gani? How long will you stay here?
Nitakaa hapa kwa miaka miwili I'll stay here for two years
Una miaka mingapi? How old are you?
Nina miaka………… I am……….years old
Unakaa wapi? Where are you staying?
3. KUJIFUNZA LUGHA LEARNING LANGUAGE
Unasema Kiswahili/Kiingereza? Do you speak Swahili/English?
Ndiyo, ninasema Kiswahili. Yes, I speak Swahili.
Hapana, sisemi Kiingereza. No, I don't speak English.
Ninasema Kiswahili kidogo tu. I speak just a little Kiswahili.
Ninajifunza Kiswahili. I am learning Kiswahili.
Umeelewa? Have you understood?
Ndiyo, nimeelewa. Yes, I've understood.
Hapana, sijaelewa? No, I've not understood.
Unasemaje …. kwa Kiswahili? How do you say...in Kiswahili?
Maana ya……. .ni nini? What is the meaning of........?
Sielewi I don't understand.
Sijui. I don't know.
Sema tena, tafadhali. Say it again, please.
Sema polepole. Speak slowly.
Sema kwa sauti. Speak loudly.
Hiki ni nini? What is this?
Unafanya nini? What are you doing?
5. FAMILIA FAMILY
mama, baba mother, father
bibi, babu grandmother,grandfather
dada, kaka, sister, brother,
dada/kaka mdogo younger sister/brother
mtoto baby or child
mvulana, msichana boy, girl
mwanamume Man
mwanamke Woman
mume, mke husband, wife
Una watoto wangapi? How many children do you have?
Shangazi/mama mdogo au mkubwa Aunt
Mjomba Uncle
Unaishi na nani? Who do you live with?
*Often, Tanzanians refer to each other as
dada, mama or bibi or kaka, baba, or
babu instead of using names. Also,
bwana is a common way to address
someone –it loosely means “sir”
7. AFYA HEALTH
Ninaumwa. I'm sick.
Mimi ni mgonjwa. I'm sick.
Unaumwa nini? What hurts? What are you suffering from?
Ninaumwa kichwa. I have headache.
Ninaharisha. I have diarrhea.
Ninaumwa tumbo. I have stomachache.
Nina homa. I have a fever.
Nipeleke hospitali. Take me to the hospital
Usinichome sindano Don't give me any shots.
Naomba maji yaliyochemshwa. Please bring me boiled water.
Pole sana. I'm very sorry.
Ugua pole. Get well soon.
Ninahisi kichefuchefu I feel nausea
Ninaharisha I have diarrhea
Ninataka kutapika I want to vomit
Ninahisi kizunguzungu I feel dizzy
Ninasikia kizunguzungu. I feel dizzy
6. NYUMBANI AT HOME
Hodi! May I come in?
Karibu. Come in, welcome!
Karibu nyumbani. Welcome to our home.
Jisikie nyumbani. Feel at home.
Karibu chakula. Come and eat.
Ongeza chakula. Have some more food/Add some more food
Asante, nimeshiba sana. Thank you, I'm very full/satisfied.
Inatosha It is enough.
Chakula kilikuwa kitamu sana. The food was very good/delicious.
Unataka kuoga? Would you like to bathe?
Ndiyo, asante. Yes, thank you.
Hapana, nitaoga baadaye. No, I'll bath later.
Ninataka kufua nguo. I want to wash my clothes.
Choo kiko wapi? Where is the bathroom?
Kuna mtu (chooni) ? Is there someone (in the bathroom) ?
Nimechoka I am tired.
Ninahitaji kupumzika I need to rest.
Naenda kulala I'm going to bed.
Lala salama. Sleep well.
Nikusaidie kupika? Can I help you to cook?
Nikusaidie kuosha vyombo? Can I help you to wash the dishes?
Samahani, nimechelewa kidogo I'm sorry, I'm a bit late
Leo nitakula mjini. Today I'm going to eat in town.
Ninaomba maji ya kuoga May I have water to bathe?
Nitarudi saa mbili usiku I'll return at 8 pm.
Funga mlango Close the door
Ninaenda kusoma I am going to study
Ninahitaji kujifunza kuwasha jiko I need to learn to light a stove
Ninahitaji kujifunza kupika I need to learn to cook
Ninaomba kuazima May I borrow………………..
Chumba changu kiko wapi? Where is my room?
Nimechelewa I am late
Nimewahi I am on time/early
Ninahitaji kupumzika I need to rest
8. MAELEKEZO
DIRECTIONS
Samahani, naomba msaada wako! Excuse me, can you help me?
Barabara ya kwenda ….iko wapi? Where is the road to........?
Stendi ya basi iko wapi? Where is the bus station?
Iko kule. It's over there.
Njoo, nikupeleke. Come, I'll take you.
Nenda moja kwa moja. Go straight.
Pinda kulia. Turn right.
Pinda kushoto Turn left.
Nionyeshe kwenye ramani Show me on the map.
Ni mbali? Is it far?
Ninaweza kufika kwa miguu? Can I get there on foot?
Ni karibu, unaweza It is nearby, you can
Bila samahani, nikusaidie nini? No problem, how can I help you?
Benki/Posta iko wapi? Where is the bank/post office?
Soko liko wapi? Where is the market?
Duka la dawa liko wapi? Where is the pharmacy?
9. HOTELINI AT A RESTAURANT
Chakula kipo? Is there any food?
Ndiyo, kipo. Yes, there is.
Hapana kimeisha. No, it's finished.
Kuna chakula gani? What kind of food is there?
Kuna wali, ugali, na ndizi. There's rice, ugali, and bananas.
Na mboga? And the side dishes?
Kuna samaki/ kuku/ nyama ya ng’ombe/
kiti moto.
There's fish/ chicken/ meat(beef)/ pork
Naomba wali na samaki I'd like rice and fish.
Mimi sili nyama. I don't eat meat.
Maharage yapo? Are there any beans?
Ndiyo, yapo. Nikuletee? Yes there are. Should I bring you some?
Soda/bia zipo? Do you have soda/beer?
Naomba Fanta baridi. I'd like a cold Fanta.
Nikufungulie? Should I open it for you?
Ndiyo, asante. Yes, thank you.
Niongeze bia. Bring me another beer.
Chakula ni bei gani? How much does the food cost?
Jumla ni shilingi ngapi? What's the total cost?
10. SOKONI AT THE MARKET
Nyanya ni shilingi ngapi? How much are the tomatoes?
Mia mbili kwa fungu. Two hundred per pile.
Naomba mafungu mawili. I'd like two piles.
Viazi ni bei gani? How much are the potatoes?
Mia nane kwa kilo. Eight hundred per kilogram.
Nyama unauzaje? How much is the meat?
Steki elfu sita Steak (no bones) is six thousand (per kilo),
Ni ghali punguza bei That's expensive, reduce the price
Nipimie nusu kilo Weigh half a kilo for me
Mchanganyiko Mixture (meat and bones)
Usinipe bei ya wazungu, Don't give me foreigners' price
Nipe bei ya wenyeji Give me the residents’ price
Una mfuko/rambo? Do you have a bag?
Ninao. I have one.
Sina. Nipe mfuko wa shilingi hamsini. I don't have one. Give me a 50 shillings bag.
11. SAFARINI ON A TRIP
Kuna basi la kwenda ………? Is there a bus to...........?
Basi huondoka saa ngapi? What time does the bus leave?
Basi litafika saa ngapi? What time will the bus arrive?
Ninataka kusafiri kesho. I want to travel tomorrow.
Tiketi ni shilingi ngapi? How much does a ticket cost?.
Kwenda…..ni shilingi ngapi? How much is it to go to........?
Ofisi ya ……. iko wapi? Where's the ................office?
Usinishike, sihitaji msaada. Don't grab me, I don't need help.
Dada/Kaka! Songea? Iringa? Sister/Brother! Are you going to Songea?
Iringa?
Hapana, nipo/nimefika No, I’m here/I’ve arrived.
Nishushe/niteremshe ……… Drop me off at………………..
Daladala za kwenda …..ziko wapi? Where are the ............daladalas?
Basi hilo linasimama ……..? That bus stops……………?
Naomba usogee kidogo Please scoot over a bit.
Kaa hapa mbele. Sit up here in front.
Sogea nyuma. Move to the back.
Nishikie mzigo wangu. Please hold my bag.
Kuna nafasi? Is there any space/ seat?
Hamna nafasi There's no space/seat.
Naomba lifti Can I get a ride?
12. DALADALA PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi? Where is the bus station?
Daladala inakwenda wapi? Where is the daladala going to?
Nauli ni shilingi ngapi? How much is the fare?
Nipe chenji Give me the change
Naomba kupita May I pass?
Kuna kiti/nafasi? Is there any seat/room?
Panda daladala Board the daladala
Nishushe Drop me at ……………….
Nimefika I have arrived
Subiri/ngoja Wait
Sogea Move aside
Fungua dirisha Open the window
Funga dirisha Close the window
13.KUKODI TEKSI HIRING A TAXI
Teksi, Teksi! Taxi, Taxi!
Simama Stop
Shilingi ngapi toka hapa mpaka… How much from here to…….